Pittsburgh Pennsylvania is the home of the Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh. Nicholas E. Wagman Observatory, owned and operated by the AAAP is located northeast of Pittsburgh at 40^o 37’ N. Latitude, 79^o 48’ W. Longitude. Probably more than 80% of our membership lives somewhere within the 40^o N. Latitude strip. However, many members live within the 39^o or 41^o N. Latitude bands as well.

Since the 40^o N Latitude range is our organization’s home, we decided that it might be fun to offer an observing certificate for viewing 40 astronomical objects located near 40^o declination. We’ve even added a few objects from around -40^o declination, as well. In fact, we’ve included a range from +39^o to +41^o and a similar southern range to give us a few more "40 Dec" items to see.

You will need to view 40 of the 60 objects we’ve listed to receive the 40 Dec Award. Some of these objects are easy to find, some are challenging. Many are naked-eye objects and all should be available with even a small telescope on a dark, clear night.

Submitting Reports: Please submit your observing reports at the table in the registration tent by Noon Saturday.

Honor System: Certificates are earned through the honor system. If you say you saw it, we believe you. The only checking we’ll do is a count to assure that you observed enough listed objects to complete each category.

Constellations: Record the date and time of your observations on the attached form. Obviously, you do not have to see every star in a constellation. However, you can’t just see 5% of them either. As a ground rule, try to see most of the stars that form the star pattern that defines the constellation. For example, you are looking at Scorpius. You see the claw stars, you follow the stars down past Antares toward the bottom of the scorpion’s body. You can also see some of the tail and the stinger stars. However, from your star atlas, you know 2 or 3 of the lowest elevation stars are hidden by the horizon. Record the date and time on your log sheet. This counts. You don’t have to see the "False Comet", you don’t have to see every naked-eye star within the Scorpius’ borders, you don’t even have to see every star in the defining pattern of the constellation, but you must see most of them. No more than 8 constellations can be used as credit for the certificate.

Stars: Most listed stars are double stars. A couple of variables and one or two single bright stars are listed as well. Stars with descriptions are more notable than those without. You might want to start with them. Most of the doubles listed are Struve doubles. A few are Otto Struve doubles. These are generally indicated on star atlases with Sigma (S ) or O-Sigma (OS ) designation prefixes respectively. Record the date and time of as many as you need. Descriptions are optional.

Deep Sky Objects: The deep sky list is comprised of Galaxies and Open Clusters. Record the date and time of as many as you need, but you must observe a minimum of 6. Descriptions are optional.

Extra Credit: These objects have no relationship to the 40 Dec project, but they can be so challenging we are offering special credit for them. Try the southern objects as early as darkness permits…they set quickly. As it says, if you get them, you can credit yourself with 2 observations in any one of the 3 categories as needed.